Cabinets are one of the most important parts of our home. They are used for storage and many other purposes. But the installation procedure of cabinets can sometimes confuse people.
Today, we are going to discuss and find out whether one can hang cabinets on metal studs or not.
Hanging cabinets on metal studs
It is possible to hang cabinets on metal studs. But there are some procedures that one needs to follow to do so. Using lower metal studs with minimum space between each of them gives the best chance of hanging cabinets. The right screws will need to be used for the job.
Table of Contents
There are many different sizes and categories of cabinets available for different purposes. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them and see if they can be hung on metal studs.
Kitchen cabinets:
Kitchen cabinets can come in handy if you are short of storage space in the kitchen. If you are looking for a place to store food, then kitchen cabinets can be the answer for you.
Additionally, it can be a storage place for other equipment, tools and dishes of the kitchen. Kitchen cabinets belong to the category of multipurpose cabinets.
Kitchen cabinets need to be installed cautiously in order to be durable. However, metal studs are not the best option when it comes to hanging kitchen cabinets.
The metal studs will need additional support such as retrofitting nailers and wood strips in order to handle the weight of kitchen cabinets.
The important thing to remember here is that you can not solely rely on the strength and durability of the metal studs. The kitchen cabinets are too strong for the metal studs and the studs will need to have extra support before you can hang the cabinets on them.
Wall cabinets:
Wall cabinets give you the freedom of storing more things than before. But installing the wall cabinets can be a tiring job if you do not know the procedure. According to experts, metal studs are not the best kind of studs for hanging wall cabinets.
You will be required to use additional equipment and tools to hang the wall cabinets on metal studs.
The durability of metal studs has always been questioned due to the weight of the wall cabinets and the weight will only increase after you start storing things in them. Metal studs find it difficult to handle the weight of wall cabinets due to instability.
Ikea cabinets:
IKEA is known for producing some of the best wall and kitchen cabinets in the world. The cabinets manufactured by IKEA come in different sizes for different purposes.
The IKEA cabinets can be hung on metal studs. But it does take a toll on the durability and strength of metal studs. It is not always possible for the metal studs to handle the weight of IKEA cabinets.
The metal studs will need additional foundation support from the wall and other equipment to keep the IKEA cabinets hanging from it.
Can metal studs support cabinets?
According to experts, metal studs have the capabilities to support the structure of cabinets. But there are some pre-conditions to it. First of all, the metal studs need to be part of the drywall you are going to install the cabinets into.
A loosely held metal stud will not be good at handling the weight of kitchen cabinets.
It is believed by experts that retrofitting nailers and wood strips can provide the extra support that metal studs need. There are many better options available for hanging cabinets on the wall other than metal studs.
But if given the chance and additional support, then metal studs can do an excellent job of supporting the cabinets on the wall.
How much cabinet weight can hang on metal studs?
How much cabinet weight can hang on metal studs is influenced by many different factors. First of all, the weight limit of the metal studs is often dictated by the height of the metal studs.
For example, an eight foot metal stud will be able to handle more cabinet weight than a sixteen foot metal stud.
The distance between each metal stud is another crucial factor in this case. The metal studs that are closer to each other can support more weight than metal studs that are far from each other.
Hanging the cabinet from shorter metal studs with minimum spacing can be the most effective and practical approach.
What screws to use to hang cabinets in metal studs?
Deciding the right kind of screws to hang cabinets on metal studs is an important procedure. Let’s discuss in detail about the type of screws you need to use to hang cabinets in metal studs.
Bolt screws:
You will need to use bolt screws to attach the cabinets onto the metal studs. The bolt screws will have to be put in place after a drilling hole in front of the metal studs.
8 gauge screws:
Another important thing to remember here is that you will have to use 8 gauge metal screws to connect the cabinets onto the metal studs. Other types of screws will not work on metal studs because of their density and structure.
8 gauge screws are an excellent choice for hanging cabinets in metal studs.
2.25 inch screws:
The length of the screws for hanging cabinets in metal studs needs to be 2.25 inch. This may change according to the density of the drywall the metal studs are situated in.
Stainless screws:
You will be required to use stainless screws in the entire cabinet hanging procedure. Stainless screws will provide durability. It is not wise to use anything other than stainless screws.
How to mount cabinets on metal studs?
Mounting cabinets on metal studs might come across as a difficult job without prior experience. However, there are some tips and tricks you can follow to accomplish the task.
Gather the equipment and tools:
First of all, you will have to gather the required tools and equipment for the job. The list of tools and equipment include stud finder, clamps, drill machine, and screws. You would be good to go after gathering all these equipment and tools.
Use the stud finder:
Next, you will have to detect the metal studs finding in the walls you are going to attach the cabinets onto. You will be able to detect the edges and center of the metal studs using a stud finder.
Both magnetic and electric stud finders work in this situation. But the important thing to remember here is that you would require a plain surface for the stud finder to work on. You will be required to mark the found metal studs on the wall using chalk or pencil.
Use the drill machine:
The next step will require you drill holes into the found metal studs on the wall. You will have to attach the cabinet mount to the metal studs using bolt screws.
You will need to make sure that there is a secure connection between the cabinet mount and the metal studs. Any loose connection can impact the durability of the cabinets on the metal studs.
Mount the cabinets:
In the last step, you will need to mount the cabinets onto the cabinet mounts. You will have to make sure that you are not putting too much pressure on the cabinet mounts and the metal studs through the weight of the cabinets.
How do you hang heavy cabinets on metal studs?
Hanging heavy cabinets on metal studs can seem like a hard job to do. But there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the job. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.
A good stud finder:
The first condition of hanging heavy cabinets on metal studs is applying a good stud finder. A good stud finder will be able to locate the metal studs inside the wall accurately. So you will need to check the battery of the stud finder before you can start the procedure.
Selecting appropriate metal studs:
You will come across many metal studs on your wall while using the stud finder. But you will need to mark the lower metal studs according to the height of the cabinets. The low metal studs will be able to handle the weight of cabinets better than the high ones.
The distance between each metal stud is also crucial for the optimum weight distribution.
Using the right screws:
You will be required to use the right screws for hanging the heavy cabinets on metal studs. The screws will have to be eight gauge with a length of 2.25 inch.
Final Thoughts
Metal studs can support the weight of cabinets if the correct procedures are followed. Firstly, low metal studs will have to be located using a stud finder. Secondly, the gap between each metal stud needs to be minimum. Eight gauge screws with a length of 2.25 inch will be perfect for installation.